Two of the most successful squads in World Baseball Classic history meet in a showdown of unbeatens that vaults the winner into a quarterfinal appearance. 

Puerto Rico and Cuba, two of just four teams that have survived group play in all five previous WBCs, meet in a Pool A showdown at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan with the winner assured of advancing out of group play. 

The Puerto Ricans will once again have the home crowd on their side, an advantage that was palpable in their pulsating 3-2, 10-inning victory against Panama March 7. Puerto Rico erased one-run deficits in the ninth and 10th innings before Darell Hernaiz’s walk-off homer – the second in WBC history since Ozzie Albies beat him to it hours earlier. 

Cuba and Puerto Rico are both 2-0, and both clubs have games remaining against 1-1 Canada. That means the loser of this game must beat Canada in its matchup; Puerto Rico plays the Canadians Tuesday, March 10 and Cuba faces them the next day. 

Cuba is coming off a 7-4 victory over Colombia, keyed by a three-run, first-inning homer from first baseman Ariel Martinez. He has three hits in seven at-bats in the tourney. 

Follow for live updates:

Where to watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba baseball game

• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Fox Sports 1
• Live stream: FoxSports.com // Fubo

Watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba live on Fubo

Josimar Cousin keeps Cuba in it as Puerto Rico leads 3-0

Josimar Cousin, who reached Class AAA with the Chicago White Sox, has kept Cuba close in its battle against a major league-laden lineup from Puerto Rico. Cousin, a 6-3, 230-pound 28-year-old, inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the second inning, got out of that jam and began a run of eight straight batters retired for Cuba as the game enters the fifth inning

Cousin pitched in the White Sox organization in 2023 and 2024 and spent last season in Mexico. On this night, he loomed large for Cuba. Puerto Rico still leads this winner-moves-on battle 3-0, but it’s still very much a game thanks to Cousin.

Elmer Rodríguez shows Yankee bosses his mettle for Puerto Rico

It didn’t seem like the best timing: Shortly before Puerto Rico took on Cuba, the Yankees announced right-hander Elmer Rodríguez was being optioned to minor league camp – just before he took the mound for his squad.

Oh, he probably had a heads-up about it, but Rodríguez nonetheless had a platform his fellow Yankee farmhands did not. And Rodríguez made the most of it, pitching three shutout innings, working around three walks and protecting Puerto Rico’s 3-0 lead.

The 22-year-old struck out three and in his biggest moment, induced a comebacker to start a 1-4-3 double play in the second inning, shortly after a leadoff walk. He also benefited from a nice play by Nolan Arenado – who ranged well into foul ground and threw out Yoan Moncada for the final out of the third. But Rodriguez looked unflappable, striking out three and displaying what appeared to be a relatively slow heartbeat, given the 20,000 or so partisans jammed into Estadio Bithorn..

And with that, perhaps he earned a longer look someday in Yankee camp.

Martín Maldonado clears bases, gives Puerto Rico 3-0 lead over Cuba

The oldest and perhaps wisest member of Team Puerto Rico gave them a massive edge in their showdown against Cuba. Martín Maldonado, the 39-year-old pressed into service after insurance denials kept several Puerto Ricans off the roster, smoked a first-pitch slider off Cuban starter Julio Robaina just past third baseman Yoan Moncada, clearing the bases and giving Puerto Rico a 3-0 lead through two innings.

The rally was keyed largely by MJ Melendez’s 10-pitch at-bat against Robaina, with Melendez finally drawing a full-count walk. Maldonado finished Robaina with one swing, enabling Darell Hernaiz, Emmanuel Rivera and Melendez to chug around the bases and stake Puerto Rico starter Elmer Rodríguez to a healthy lead.

Right-hander Luis Romero came on in relief for Cuba, walked the first two batters he faced but struck out Nolan Arenado and got Carlos Cortes on a pop fly to shortstop, leaving the bases loaded. Puerto Rico may rue that missed opportunity, but still cashed in nicely in batting around.

Cuba, Puerto Rico scoreless after first inning

Both starting pitchers allowed the leadoff batter to reach but then calmed down to post zeroes as Cuba-Puerto Rico completed the first inning. Puerto Rico starter Elmer Rodríguez issued a leadoff walk and fell behind Yoan Moncada 2-0, but Moncada swung at the next pitch and grounded into a fielder’s choice, short-circuting any threat. Puerto Rico leadoff man Willi Castro singled and, with one out, stole second but advanced no further against Cuban lefty Julio Robaina.

Cuba-Puerto Rico underway in San Juan after delay

First pitch came at 8:21 ET before a jam-packed house at Estadio Hiram Bithorn. Puerto Rico starter Elmer Rodríguez might have been a bit too amped up – his first six pitches to Cuban hitters were balls before inducing a fielder’s choice from Yoan Moncada.

Start time set for Puerto Rico-Cuba: 8:20 ET

Stubborn rain has finally moved out of the area of Estadio Hiram Bithorn, at least enough for officials to declare a first pitch time for Cuba and Puerto Rico: 8:20 p.m. ET, or about an hour and 15 minutes after the originally scheduled first pitch.

At last, certainty.

Rain delays start of Puerto Rico-Cuba

This highly-anticipated Caribbean matchup will have to wait just a bit longer. Rain in San Juan has delayed the start of Puerto Rico and Cuba, although the teams are in the dugout and the tarp expected to be pulled soon.

Estadio Hiram Bithorn is, alas, the lone WBC venue that is not climate-controlled.

Puerto Rico, Cuba lineups, starting pitchers

Elmer Rodriguez, a 22-year-old right-hander in the New York Yankees organization, will start for Puerto Rico. Rodriguez reached Class AAA last season and has averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in his major league career. He’ll be opposed by Cuban lefty Julio Robaina, a 5-11 24-year-old and former Astros farmhand who pitched in independent ball in 2025.

The lineups for both teams:

Cuba lineup tonight against Puerto Rico:

1. CF Roel Santos
2. 3B Yoan Moncada
3. 1B Ariel Martínez
4. DH Alfredo Despaigne
5. SS Erisbuel Arruebuena
6. C Omar Hernández
7. RF Yoelkis Guibert
8. LF Leonel Moas
9. 2B Yiddi Cappe

P: LHP Julio Robaina

Puerto Rico lineup tonight against Cuba:

1. 2B Willi Castro
2. CF Heliot Ramos
3. 3B Nolan Arenado
4. RF Carlos Cortes
5. SS Darell Hernaiz
6. LF Eddie Rosario
7. 1B Emmanuel Rivera
8. DH MJ Melendez
9. C Martín Maldonado

SP: Elmer Rodriguez

Puerto Rico WBC roster

Pitchers: Raymond Burgos LHP, Fernando Cruz RHP, José De León RHP, Edwin Díaz RHP, José Espada RHP, Rico Garcia RHP, Jorge López RHP, Seth Lugo RHP, Jovani Morán LHP, Luis Quiñones RHP, Ángel Reyes RHP, Yacksel Ríos RHP, Eduardo Rivera LHP, Elmer Rodríguez RHP, Gabriel Rodríguez LHP, Ricardo Velez RHP

Catchers: Martín Maldonado, Christian Vázquez

Infielders: Nolan Arenado, Edwin Arroyo, Darell Hernáiz, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Vázquez

Outfielders: Willi Castro, Carlos Cortes, Matthew Lugo, MJ Melendez, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario, Bryan Torres

Cuba WBC roster

Pitchers: Frank Alvarez RHP, Emmanuel Chapman RHP, Josimar Cousin RHP, Naykel Cruz LHP, Daviel Hurtado LHP, Denny Larrondo RHP, Yoan López RHP, Raidel Martínez RHP, Randy Martinez LHP, Liván Moinelo LHP, Darien Núñez LHP, Julio Robaina LHP, Osiel Rodriguez RHP, Yariel Rodriguez RHP, Luis Romero Jr. RHP, Pedro Santos RHP

Catchers: Omar Hernandez, Andrys Pérez

Infielders: Erisbel Barbaro Arruebarruena, Yiddi Cappe, Ariel Martínez, Yoán Moncada, Malcom Nuñez, Alexei Ramírez, Alexander Vargas

Outfielders: Alfredo Despaigne, Yoelquis Guibert, Leonel Moa, Roel Santos, Yoel Yanqui

• Travis Kelce plans to return to the Kansas City Chiefs for his 14th NFL season.
• The Chiefs also signed Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year deal.
• These moves suggest the Chiefs are reloading for another championship run rather than rebuilding.
• The team still needs to address its secondary and offensive line, particularly at right tackle.

Travis Kelce’s NFL era isn’t over yet. Meanwhile, a new era is also apparently beginning for the Kansas City Chiefs, who also agreed on March 9 to sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III away from the Seattle Seahawks.

Kelce, the likely first-ballot Hall of Fame tight end and – more recently – pop culture darling plans to return to the Chiefs for a 14th season, according to multiple reports. Kelce, who just completed a two-year, $34.3 million extension, didn’t quite reach the open free agency market – yet there also didn’t seem to be much doubt he’d play anywhere but K.C., the team that drafted him in 2013.

Meanwhile, Walker – who agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal – brings a new element to a franchise trying to prove, well, that it’s dynastic era isn’t yet over.

What does it all mean? In the spirit of Taylor Swift’s “Question…?,” let’s try to answer some questions here:

Are the Chiefs already back?

Some league observers had mused that Kansas City, which missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2014 – and first time ever in QB Patrick Mahomes’ nine-year career – might be in the midst of a mini-rebuild, particularly following last week’s trade of CB Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. Apparently not – let’s call it a reset or reload instead. No squad is luring a 36-year-old tight end back, nor signing a running back to major money, if it doesn’t expect to contend – and immediately. It remains to be seen if Kansas City can compete for a fourth Lombardi Trophy since the start of the 2019 season, especially following a 6-11 campaign that parked the Chiefs in third place in the AFC West, but they’re clearly not going to waste any time trying. A clear message sent to the locker room − just ask DT Chris Jones.

What do Travis Kelce, Kenneth Walker III contracts mean for Patrick Mahomes?

Maybe – hopefully? – better protection? Kelce, who’s led the Chiefs in receiving yards in six of the past seven seasons, has long been Mahomes’ preferred target – and seemed to enjoy something of a renaissance in 2025 after a lackluster 2024 season capped by a poor outing in Kansas City’s blowout loss in Super Bowl 59. With Kelce continuing to find space in the intermediate area of the field, and Walker providing a huge upgrade in a run game that was virtually non-existent last season – Mahomes had to contribute greatly to it, often running for his life on the way to a career-best 422 yards on the ground – there should be less pressure on the three-time Super Bowl MVP as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last December. Walker, who’s eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards twice in his four-year career, could be the first to do so in K.C. since 2017. (Still, an upgrade at right tackle sure would be nice for Mahomes, too.)

What will the Chiefs do in the draft?

It’s something of a premature question with free agency a long way from petering out. (And the Chiefs were active Monday aside from striking deals with Kelce and Walker, also reaching an agreement with DL Khyiris Tonga on a three-year, $21 million deal − meaning some help for Jones, too). But a team that now owns three of the draft’s top 40 selections – including a pair in Round 1 following the McDuffie deal – still has plenty of work to do. Joining McDuffie on the Rams is Jaylen Watson, who started opposite him in K.C. last year – meaning the secondary will have to be a point of emphasis at some point. And right tackle also probably ought to be addressed following the release of Jawaan Taylor and struggles Jaylon Moore, who’s only under contract for one more year anyway, had last season. Mahomes was sacked 70 times over the past two seasons and was bagged on 6.3% of his dropbacks in 2025, a career worst. That needs to change for a rehabbing star who will be 31 in September.

What does Travis Kelce’s return to the Kansas City Chiefs mean for Taylor Swift?

So much insight to share here. So much.

More flights to Kansas City and more appearances at Arrowhead for the pop goddess.

No complications to the wedding guest list given Kelce won’t be falling in love with a whole new group of teammates and coaches.

Maybe still a chance Swift performs with her boo on Super Sunday – the Eras Tour did make a stop at SoFi Stadium, site of Super Bowl 61 – if she finally agrees to a long-anticipated Super Bowl halftime show. Our sources tell us … well, we have no sources here. (Try Melissa Ruggieri.)

Major League Soccer has issued lifetime bans to Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for violating the league’s gambling policy.

MLS said that after an investigation, the league ‘concluded that the players engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including on their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.”

The league initially put the pair on administrative leave in October 2025, saying only that they had potentially violated unspecified league rules.

Jones and Yeboah were teammates on the Columbus Crew before the latter joined LAFC ahead of the 2025 season. Yeboah, 28, currently plays for Chinese side Qingdao Hainiu while Jones, 29, is without a club.

MLS said the league received suspicious betting alerts and retained the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to conduct an investigation.

The investigation found that both Jones and Yeboah bet on Jones to receive a yellow card in a match between the Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls on October 19, 2024. The midfielder did earn a yellow card during the game.

The league said the players ‘likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intent to draw yellow cards.’

Jones’s yellow card can be seen HERE.

MLS said there was “no evidence that was identified that suggested any of these betting activities affected the outcome of a match.”

“Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.

“The league will continue to enforce its policies, enhance education efforts, and advocate for the elimination of yellow card wagering in all states to protect the integrity of our competition for clubs, players and fans.”

After the suspensions were announced, the Crew released a statement saying that the club fully cooperated with the league’s investigation.

“The Columbus Crew are proud of the reputation we’ve established in MLS and global soccer that’s rooted in respect and integrity throughout our organization,’ the team said. ‘We fully condemn all actions and notions that aren’t aligned with these critical values for our club and any individual’s activity contradicting the principles of fair competition that are pivotal to our team, league and sport.

“The Crew – who strictly adhere to all MLS policies on educating and enforcing sports gambling regulations with team personnel – fully cooperated with the league since first learning about the inquiry regarding the players in question. Given the nature of the investigation, the club defers all comment on its results and discipline to the league.”

• The ‘Flying V’ bracket finally claimed Georgia Southern, as super Cinderella comes up just short of March Madness.
• Troy is the Sun Belt’s best team. Fitting, it’s moving on to the NCAA Tournament.
• When NCAA Tournament expands, it won’t be to benefit of midmajors. Auto bids remain the way to access.

PENSACOLA, Florida – The madness started the way madness often does, unnoticed and under the cover of darkness.

Georgia Southern began its nearly weeklong trek to the Sun Belt Tournament championship game one night last week in front of a crowd that numbered in the hundreds, not the thousands.

As the Sun Belt’s No. 10 seed, the Eagles would need to win six games in six days to secure one of those precious auto bids that unlock NCAA Tournament access for super Cinderellas, no matter their record.

A conference 10-seed, becoming a bid-stealer? That really would be mad, but, hey, this is March.

The way the Sun Belt’s “Flying V” bracket works, teams with double-digit seeds like Georgia Southern face a rigorous journey to reach the point of the “V,” the finals, while the conference’s best teams start several rounds closer to the finish line.

The NCAA Tournament starts next week, and mid-majors supply the event’s charm and paint some of the most epic scenes for Luther Vandross to croon over. Real ones know, though, the upsets and the mad twists begin in the conference tourneys, where precious NCAA access is on the line, even for teams with damaged records and flawed resumes.

One by one, night by night, Georgia Southern carved through Old Dominion, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and Marshall.

Down went Sun Belt’s No. 3 seed. Out went the No. 2.

One more upset, and the Eagles wouldn’t just be soaring, they’d be dancing.

And you can say they ran out of steam, and that’d probably be right. Or you can say they simply ran into the Sun Belt’s best team, and that’d be right, too.

However you put it, super Cinderella bowed out. The Sun Belt’s No. 1 seed, Troy, is headed to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year after a 77-61 victory to turn back Georgia Southern.

Troy beating Georgia Southern makes NCAA Tournament bracket better

This result works neatly for the Sun Belt, that its best team will be on display on the sport’s biggest stage. Troy is likely headed somewhere in the direction of the 14-seed line, after its frontcourt dominated in the paint against the Eagles.

It’s good for March Madness when the best teams in mid-major conferences win their respective conference tournaments. That means a better batch of underdogs.

And, still, what a story it would have been — a story that can only be told in March — if Georgia Southern had gotten a crack at playing a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed in a first-round game after a six-night stand in this Panhandle city that’s home to the world-famous Blue Angels and pristine beaches with sugar-white sand.

Georgia Southern came out of halftime burying buckets in a furious final stand that cut Troy’s lead to four points. Ah, but it wasn’t to be, and when Troy’s star big man Victor Valdes made a bucket in the paint to re-establish a double-digit lead, it was clear the postgame Fiskers were headed to the Trojans to do the net snipping.

March Madness expansion is coming, but not to help mid-majors

No matter whether the bracket grows to 72 or 76 or even 80 teams, it’s not going to be big enough for 10th-place teams from the Sun Belt.

For teams like Georgia Southern, there’s still only one way in: By banging down the door with six wins in six nights and getting an auto bid.

And in those rare instances when a super Cinderella pulls it off, it’ll be madness, the likes of which Georgia Southern attempted, before Troy took its rightful place in the tournament every mid-major pains to reach.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The Philadelphia Phillies, envisioning a future in which Zack Wheeler is no longer part of their rotation, moved to lock up another stalwart from their staff for the long term.

Left-hander Jesús Luzardo and the Phillies are in agreement on a five-year, $135 million contract extension, a person familiar with the agreement confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.

Luzardo, 28, was eligible for free agency after the 2026 season, and was coming off perhaps the finest campaign of his career, winning 15 games and posting a 3.92 ERA across a career-high 183 ⅔ innings. While he might have garnered more than a $27 million average annual value on the free agent market, it actually puts him in line with Yankees ace Max Fried, whose eight-year, $218 million deal is worth $27.25 million per year.

Wheeler, the Cy Young Award runner-up in 2024, has indicated he’ll retire after his three-year, $142 million deal expires after the 2027 season. The club already retained right-hander Aaron Nola on a $172 million deal signed after the 2023 season, and Luzardo’s extension ensures a decent base from which to work.

The club also hopes top prospect Andrew Painter solidifies the back of the rotation and grows into mid- to frontline starter. Now, he’ll have both Nola and Luzardo to slot behind in the future.

Luzardo will make $11 million this season in his final year of arbitration-eligibility before his extension kicks in.

Jesus Luzardo stats

• 2025 (Philadelphia): 15-7 record, 183.2 IP, 216 SO, 3.92 ERA
• 2024 (Miami): 3-6, 66.2 IP, 58 SO, 5.00 ERA
• 2023 (Miami): 10-10, 178.2 IP, 208 SO, 3.58 ERA
• 2022 (Miami): 4-7, 100.1 IP, 120 SO, 3.32 ERA
• 2021 (Oakland/Miami): 6-9, 95.1 IP, 98 SO, 6.61 ERA
• 2020 (Oakland): 3-2, 59.0 IP, 59 SO, 4.12 ERA
• 2019 (Oakland): 0-0, 12.0 IP, 16 SO, 1.50 ERA

The pre-White House fighting has begun.

It started Saturday after White announced the fight card for the White House event to be held on June 14. Jones, widely considered the greatest fighter in UFC history, was a notable omission from the card.

White addressed the matter later that night during a press conference after the conclusion of UFC 326.

 “Never ever, ever, which I told you guys 100,000 times, was Jon Jones even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House,’ the UFC’s CEO said, adding that Jones is suffering from arthritis of the hips that will keep him from fighting again.

Jones, who is 38 and last fought in November 2024, responded via his X account Monday, March 9.

“My team and I were actually negotiating with the UFC for that fight,’’ Jones wrote. “Real negotiations. I even came down from my original number, and what was I offered in return? I was lowballed.’’

Jones did not cite a specific dollar figure, but he said his team was negotiating as late as Friday.

He also said he received stem cell treatment last week to get ready for the White House card and was scheduled to start training on Monday.

“Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight,’’ Jones said. “So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense.’’

Jones, a former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, has a career record of 28-1.

‘I understand business deals fall through sometimes, but going out publicly and saying things that aren’t true isn’t right,” Jones wrote. ‘After everything I’ve given to the UFC , the years, the title defenses, the fights, hearing that I’m ‘done’ is disappointing. Especially when as recently as Friday UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number.

‘If the UFC truly feels like I’m done, then I respectfully ask to be released from my contract today. No more spins, no more games. Thank you to the real fans who know what’s up.”

Conor McGregor, who lobbied to fight on the White House card, was another notable ommission. White said the UFC is in talks with McGregor but has not selected a fight date.

McGregor, 37, has not fought since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a loss Dustin Poirier.

Two of the most successful squads in World Baseball Classic history meet in a showdown of unbeatens that vaults the winner into a quarterfinal appearance. 

Puerto Rico and Cuba, two of just four teams that have survived group play in all five previous WBCs, meet in a Pool A showdown at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan with the winner assured of advancing out of group play. 

The Puerto Ricans will once again have the home crowd on their side, an advantage that was palpable in their pulsating 3-2, 10-inning victory against Panama March 7. Puerto Rico erased one-run deficits in the ninth and 10th innings before Darell Hernaiz’s walk-off homer – the second in WBC history since Ozzie Albies beat him to it hours earlier. 

Cuba and Puerto Rico are both 2-0, and both clubs have games remaining against 1-1 Canada. That means the loser of this game must beat Canada in its matchup; Puerto Rico plays the Canadians Tuesday, March 10 and Cuba faces them the next day. 

Cuba is coming off a 7-4 victory over Colombia, keyed by a three-run, first-inning homer from first baseman Ariel Martinez. He has three hits in seven at-bats in the tourney. 

Follow for live updates:

Where to watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba baseball game

• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Fox Sports 1
• Live stream: FoxSports.com // Fubo

Watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba live on Fubo

Start time set for Puerto Rico-Cuba: 8:20 ET

Stubborn rain has finally moved out of the area of Estadio Hiram Bithorn, at least enough for officials to declare a first pitch time for Cuba and Puerto Rico: 8:20 p.m. ET, or about an hour and 15 minutes after the originally scheduled first pitch.

At last, certainty.

Rain delays start of Puerto Rico-Cuba

This highly-anticipated Caribbean matchup will have to wait just a bit longer. Rain in San Juan has delayed the start of Puerto Rico and Cuba, although the teams are in the dugout and the tarp expected to be pulled soon.

Estadio Hiram Bithorn is, alas, the lone WBC venue that is not climate-controlled.

Puerto Rico, Cuba lineups, starting pitchers

Elmer Rodriguez, a 22-year-old right-hander in the New York Yankees organization, will start for Puerto Rico. Rodriguez reached Class AAA last season and has averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in his major league career. He’ll be opposed by Cuban lefty Julio Robaina, a 5-11 24-year-old and former Astros farmhand who pitched in independent ball in 2025.

The lineups for both teams:

Cuba lineup tonight against Puerto Rico:

1. CF Roel Santos
2. 3B Yoan Moncada
3. 1B Ariel Martínez
4. DH Alfredo Despaigne
5. SS Erisbuel Arruebuena
6. C Omar Hernández
7. RF Yoelkis Guibert
8. LF Leonel Moas
9. 2B Yiddi Cappe

P: LHP Julio Robaina

Puerto Rico lineup tonight against Cuba:

1. 2B Willi Castro
2. CF Heliot Ramos
3. 3B Nolan Arenado
4. RF Carlos Cortes
5. SS Darell Hernaiz
6. LF Eddie Rosario
7. 1B Emmanuel Rivera
8. DH MJ Melendez
9. C Martín Maldonado

SP: Elmer Rodriguez

Puerto Rico WBC roster

Pitchers: Raymond Burgos LHP, Fernando Cruz RHP, José De León RHP, Edwin Díaz RHP, José Espada RHP, Rico Garcia RHP, Jorge López RHP, Seth Lugo RHP, Jovani Morán LHP, Luis Quiñones RHP, Ángel Reyes RHP, Yacksel Ríos RHP, Eduardo Rivera LHP, Elmer Rodríguez RHP, Gabriel Rodríguez LHP, Ricardo Velez RHP

Catchers: Martín Maldonado, Christian Vázquez

Infielders: Nolan Arenado, Edwin Arroyo, Darell Hernáiz, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Vázquez

Outfielders: Willi Castro, Carlos Cortes, Matthew Lugo, MJ Melendez, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario, Bryan Torres

Cuba WBC roster

Pitchers: Frank Alvarez RHP, Emmanuel Chapman RHP, Josimar Cousin RHP, Naykel Cruz LHP, Daviel Hurtado LHP, Denny Larrondo RHP, Yoan López RHP, Raidel Martínez RHP, Randy Martinez LHP, Liván Moinelo LHP, Darien Núñez LHP, Julio Robaina LHP, Osiel Rodriguez RHP, Yariel Rodriguez RHP, Luis Romero Jr. RHP, Pedro Santos RHP

Catchers: Omar Hernandez, Andrys Pérez

Infielders: Erisbel Barbaro Arruebarruena, Yiddi Cappe, Ariel Martínez, Yoán Moncada, Malcom Nuñez, Alexei Ramírez, Alexander Vargas

Outfielders: Alfredo Despaigne, Yoelquis Guibert, Leonel Moa, Roel Santos, Yoel Yanqui

Mike Evans’ time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is coming to an end after 12 strong seasons.

Evans agreed to a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers in NFL free agency, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 32-year-old will make $60.4 million as part of the new contract.

The Buccaneers selected Evans in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and saw the Texas A&M product blossom into one of the NFL’s most consistent receivers. He posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons and earned six Pro Bowl nods while helping Tampa Bay win Super Bowl 55.

However, Evans saw his 1,000-yard season streak come to an end in 2025 as he battled hamstring and collarbone injuries. He logged just 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns as a result of those problems.

The 49ers will be banking on the 6-5, 231-pound receiver returning to form as one of the NFL’s best contested-catch receivers. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers will lean on their young receiving corps to support Baker Mayfield as they prepare to play without Evans for the first time since the 2013 NFL season.

Here’s what to know about Evans and the Buccaneers splitting up after 12 seasons.

Why Mike Evans is leaving Buccaneers, joining 49ers

Evans’ agent – Deryk Gilmore of Day 1 Sports & Entertainment – provided insight into the wide receiver’s decision in a lengthy statement.

‘Mike Evans felt a desire to challenge himself with a new chapter in the final stage of his career,’ the statement began. ‘Throughout his entire career he has pushed himself to grow, compete, and evolve as a player, and this decision reflects that same mindset.’

The statement glowingly acknowledged the ‘tremendous love and respect’ Evans has for the Buccaneers. It was also complimentary of Tampa Bay’s wide receiver room, giving flowers to Chris Godwin and opining Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson would ‘thrive’ while developing in larger roles.

The statement also provided a glimpse at Evans’ larger goals that helped inform his free agent decision.

‘At this stage of his career, Mike’s goals remain the same as they have always been – to compete for another Super Bowl, to play in an offensive system that challenges defenses, and to be in an environment where he can continue to push himself and contribute at the highest level,’ the statement read.

The 49ers certainly seem to check those boxes. San Francisco has routinely been in the Super Bowl mix under Kyle Shanahan, whose offensive system is regarded as one of the NFL’s best. The team also has a big need at receiver across from Ricky Pearsall – Brandon Aiyuk is set to be released while both Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne are free agents – which will give Evans a clear path toward playing time.

Evans made it clear those were the driving factors in his decision and that the Buccaneers had made a strong effort to retain him.

‘The Buccaneers made it clear they would have loved for Mike to finish his career in Tampa and potentially become just the fourth player in franchise history to spend his entire career as a Buccaneer and ultimately walk into Canton representing the organization,’ the statement read.

‘Mike Evans’ decision to leave Tampa was never about money. The Buccaneers were extremely aggressive in their pursuit and presented a very strong offer, demonstrating how much they value him and everything he has meant to the franchise.

‘In the end, this decision simply came down to Mike wanting a new challenge and a fresh opportunity while he still feels he has a great deal left to give the game.’

As such, it appears to be an amicable split between the two parties after a 12-year relationship.

‘Tampa Bay will always be a special place for Mike Evans, and his respect and gratitude for the organization and its fans will never change,’ the statement read.

Mike Evans contract details

Evans’ decision may not have primarily been about the money, but he still got a sizable contract for the 49ers. Below are the reported details of the deal:

• Term: 3 years
• Total contract value: $60.4 millon
• Average annual value (AAV): $20.13 million

Evans’ AAV presently ranks 23rd among NFL wide receivers, according to OverTheCap.com. It is only slightly lower than the $20.5 million he received on his previous, two-year contract with the Buccaneers.

Mike Evans stats

Below is a full look at Evans’ stats across his 12 seasons to date:

• Games: 176
• Targets: 1,493
• Receptions: 866
• Receiving yards: 13,052
• Receiving TDs: 108
• Yards per reception: 15.1

Evans averaged a career-low 12.3 yards per reception across limited action in 2025, but that still ranked 61st among 210 qualifiers for the stat league-wide.

Evans’ average depth of target (ADOT) ranked eighth overall among receivers at 14.4 yards, per Pro Football Focus. The 49ers will hope he can continue to be one of the NFL’s best and most consistent down-the-field targets.

The Terry Rozier saga between the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets has come to a close.

Charlotte will send a second-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft to Miami as part of the dispute concerning the January 2024 trade that shipped Rozier to the Heat, two people with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The people spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

Charlotte had held multiple second-round picks in the draft; the pick sent to Miami will be the more favorable one that originally belonged to the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.

The decision was announced in a league memo sent to all NBA general managers.

Neither the NBA nor the Hornets disclosed information to the Heat about irregular betting activity around Rozier’s performance during a March 23, 2023 game prior to the trade. The Heat had no knowledge about the suspicious betting activity raised in March 2023 by integrity monitoring services, nor did the Heat have knowledge about the subsequent federal investigation into Rozier until both became public in January 2025.

According to the NBA’s constitution and by-laws, when a trade is executed, the general managers of all teams involved are required to first send an email with the terms to the NBA league office.

Then, representatives from each team jump on a “trade conference call” with the league office that includes league lawyers. The call is recorded and the terms of the deal, including the terms of each player contract involved, are read aloud.

It is during these calls when pertinent medical information is discussed. One section in the constitution states that teams are prohibited from making “any other material misrepresentation or fail to disclose any other material information during the Trade Call.”

Once the terms are agreed upon, teams must certify that there are no other terms that were not mentioned and agreed upon during the call.

Afterwards, logistics about timing of the trade announcements are discussed.

Rozier was arrested Thursday, Oct. 23 for his alleged role in an insider sports-betting scheme. He is accused of manipulating his performance during a March 23, 2023 NBA game when he was a member of the Hornets, to benefit illegal betting.

On Dec. 8, he pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

Rozier, 31, has been away from the team as his court case proceeds.